Head lamp construction



Oct. 22, 1940.

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INVENTOR 6'? 5!, M

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ATTOR N EYS.

Patented Oct. 22, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1mm LAMP coNsriwcrl oN John J. Wharam, Dearborn, Mich., assignor to Ford Motor Company, Deal-born, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application May 12, 1939, Serial No.2vaso5 my improved construction both lamps appear to be pointing in exactly the same direction.

Specifically my invention relates to a novel method of adjusting head lamps in which projector type bulbs are used. with this type of bulb the reflector and lens are hermetically sealed together with the filaments positioned within the enclosure so that the unit forms a relatively large bulb with the lens forming the front face of the bulb. The advantage of this construction is that the filaments may be optically adjusted for the particular reflector so that an accurate lightpattern is produced thereby. It is necessary that the bulb .unit be adjustable both vertically and laterally and that once the adjustment is made the bulb will be rigidly held in the adjusted position against road shocks and vibration of the car. With my improved construction such rigidity is assured.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists in the arrangement, construction and combination of the various parts of my improved head lamp, as described in the specification, claimed in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved head lamp mounted in an automobile fender.

Figure 2 is a sectional view, taken upon the line 2-2 of Figure 1. v v

Figure 3 is a front elevation of my lamp assembly, and

Figure 4 is a sectional 44 of Figure 3.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, I have used the reference numeral III. to indicate the fender of a motor vehicle, which fender is provided with a circular shaped opening II in the forward face thereof. A spherical housing I2, formed of sheet metal, is permanently secured in the opening I I so as to extend into the fender and form a housing for my improved lamp construction. A cylindrical supporting member I3 is secured in the housing I2 by means of four view, taken upon the line A further object of my invention is (CL MID-8.1)

brackets I 4 which project from this member and which are preferably spot-welded to the housing.

The forward end of the support I3 iscoined inwardly to provide a ring shaped spherical surface I5, the center of which lies upon an axial line 5 through the housing I2 at the point I6 thereon. The center of oscillation I6 is chosen so that an are drawn therearound will lie substantially upon the surface of the fender III. This is an important feature of this lamp, as it permits adjustment 10 without changing the outward appearance of the lamp.

A lens frame I1 is formed with a spherical seatthereon of the same curvature as the ring I5 so that the frame I1 may be oscillated in all direc- 15 tions thereon A ring I8 is secured by means of screws I9 to the frame H, which ring holds a projector bulb unit within theframe II. The bulb unit comprises a reflector 20 of parabolic shape having a spherical lens 2| hermetically sealed 20 lens ring 24 is secured to the fender III by means of screws 25, which lens ring is provided with a central opening therein of slightly smaller diameter than the lens 2 I. to the contour of the fender. The lens 2| being spherical may thus be oscillated in any direction .around the .point I6 and still present a spherical arc when viewed from any point in the outside of the fender, the flat face of which is truly vertical. 35

This is an important feature of this design as the lamps may be individually adjusted to suit all driving conditions and still present a uniform appearance from the outside of the car.

In order that the lamps may be conveniently 40 adjusted and held in their adjusted positions, I

have provided a pair of adjusting screws 26 each of which screws extends through a tab 21 formed on the frame I1 and a similar tab 28, formed on the support I 3. One adjusting screw is provided 45 from the frame I! and which 'is in alignment with 50 an opening 30 which is formed in the aligned bracket I4. A tension spring extendsbetween each ear 29 and the adjacent opening 30. The spring which is located at the bottom of the lamp draws the lower portion of the lamp inwardly The lens ring 24 conforms 30 while the other spring draws one side of the reflector.

From the foregoing it will be seen that when the top adjusting screw 26 is screwed inwardly, the

5 upper portion of the lamp will be drawn inwardly to thereby oscillate the lower portion outwardly upon the spherical-surface l5 against the tension of the spring 3|. This action focuses the beam in a vertical direction. When the lateral adjusting screw is moved in and out it likewise operates against the tension of the opposite spring to thereby focus the beam laterally. It should be kept in mind however that in all positions of adjustment the portion of the lens which is viewed through the opening in the lens ring presents a true spherical arc, the flat face of which is vertical.

A parking light is provided, which light consists of a socket member 32 which is mounted upon the upper portion of the support I3 and a bulb 33 is secured in this socket. The bulb is positioned, as shown in Figure 4, directly in back of the lens ring 24. A transparent window 34 is provided in the ring 24 directly in front of the bulb 33 so that the light therefrom may project forwardly. No attempt is made to illuminate the road with the parking light 33, as its whole function is to provide a warning light or marker for the adjacent side of the car.

Among the many advantages arising from the use of my improved construction it may be well to mention that by oscillating the bulb and lens ring around a relatively large spherical surface, a very rigid construction is provided.

Still further, by providing the center of oscil -lation so that an are drawn therearound lies substantially within the plane of the fender, the adjusted position of the lamp is indistinguishable from the exterior of the car.

40 Some changes may be made in the arrangement, construction and combination of the various parts of my device without departing from the spirit of my invention and it is my intention to cover by my claims such changes as may be 45 reasonably included therein.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an automobile head lamp construction, a streamlined fender having an opening therein in its leading edge, a housing secured to said fender 50 within said opening so as to lie within said fender, a lamp supporting member disposed within said housing, said member being secured to said housing and having a relatively large spherical seat formed thereon the center of which is at such 55 point that arcs drawn therearound will substantially follow the curvature of said fender both vertically and laterally, a lamp frame mounted to oscillate upon said seat, a pair of springs extending between said housing and said frame at so points spaced substantially 90 degrees apart, said springs drawing said frame against said seat, adjusting screws extending between said frame and said supporting member at points diametrically opposed to said springs, respectively, said ad- 65 justing screws resisting the force of said springs, a projector bulb unit fixed in said frame, and a lens ring secured to said fender over said opening therein, said ring having a central opening therein of slightly less size than said bulb unit through 70 which the forward face of said bulb projects.

2. In an automobile head lamp construction, a streamlined fender having an opening in its leading edge, a housing secured to said fender within said opening so as to lie within said fender, a cy- 7 lindrical lamp supporting member disposed within said housing, the rearward edge of which is secured to said housing and the forward edge of which is coined inwardly to form a spherical seat the center of which is at such point that arcs drawn therearound will substantially follow the curve of said fender both vertically and laterally, a lamp frame having a correspondingly shaped spherical seat thereon mounted to oscillate upon the spherical seat on said cylinder, a pair of tension springs extending between said supporting member and said frame at points spaced substantially 90 degrees therearound, said springs drawing the adjacent portion of said frame inwardly against said seat, adjusting screws extending between said cylinder and said frame diametrically opposite each of said springs, said screws resisting the force of said springs, a projector bulb unit fixed in said frame, and a lens ring secured to said fender over said opening therein, said ring having a central opening therein of slightly less size than said bulb unit through which the forward face of said bulb projects.

3. In an automobile head lamp construction, a streamlined fender having an opening in its leading edge, a spherical housing secured to said fender within said opening so as to form a chamber within said fender, a cylindrical supporting member disposed within said housing, said member having its rearward end secured to said housing and having its forward end coined inwardly to form a spherical seat, the center of said seat being at such a point that arcs drawn therearound will substantially follow the curvature of said fender both vertically and laterally. a lamp frame mounted to lie within said fender, said frame having a spherical seat thereon corresponding to the spherical seat on said cylinder, a pair of tension springs extending between the rearward end of said cylinder and said frame at points therearound spaced substantially 90 degrees apart, said springs urging said frame to oscillate downwardly and laterally upon its seat, adjusting screws extending between said frame and said cylinder member in positions diametrically opposite to said springs, said screws resisting the oscillating movement caused by said springs, a projector bulb unit fixed in said frame, said bulb unit having a spherical front face in substantial alignment with the curvature of said fender, and a lens ring secured to said fender over said opening therein, said lens ring having a central opening therein of slightly less size than said bulb unit through which the curved forward face of said bulb projects, for the purpose described.

4. In an automobile head lamp construction, a streamlined fender having an opening in its leading edge, a spherical housing secured to said fender within said opening so as to lie within said fender, a lamp supporting member disposed within said housing, said member having one end secured to said housing and having its other end formed with a spherical seat thereon, the center of which is at such a point that arcs drawn therearound will substantially follow the curvature of said fender both vertically and laterally, a lamp frame mounted to oscillate upon said seat, springs urging said frame at two points therearound spaced substantially 90 degrees apart so as to curvature of said fender, a lens ring secured to said fender over said openings therein, said lens ring having a central opening therein of slightly less size than said bulb unit through which the iorward face of said bulb unit projects, a parking light window disposed in said lens ring at one a point therearound, and a parking light socket fixed to said supporting member between said housing and said lens ring directly in back of said window, for the purpose described.

dorm J. WHARAM. 

